Combined shoe shank and ventilator.



No. 853,386. PATE'NTED MAY 14, 1907 v J. BALL. COMBINED SHOE SHANK 'AND VENTILATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY16,1 906.

45 same reference numerals designatesimilar parts throughout the "several views, the nuof the'United States, residing at Chicago, in

i the object of the same .is to provide an improved device of'this character for'strengthat the-same time ventilate the shoe.

' jects'as will ap ear, the invention consists-in the features 0 novelty in the construction,-

- ments in a Combined Shoe Shank and Ventiufa'ctured and which may be readily closed to device of this'character which will be simple, light and stron claimed and shown in the accompanylng drawing illustrating an exemplificationof the.

invention, and inwhich; I

3-3 of Fig. 1.-

desired size and configuration, but. referably round. This tube is provided Wit a plural- F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PATENT orrron.

COMBINED SHOE SHANK ANl D rV ENT lLATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented May 14, 1507.

Application filed May 16, 1906. Serial No. 317,118. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES BALL, a citizen the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvelator, of which the following is 'a full, clear, and exact specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in a combined shoe shank and ventilator, and

ening and stiffening the shoe, and which will A further object is to provide an improved device of this character which may be inserted into the shoe while the same is being manpreventthe entrance of moisture in wet weather. i c';

A further object is to provide an improved in construction, cheap to manufacture an effic1ent in operation.

accomplishment ofxother new and useful obcombination and arrangement of the several parts hereinaftermore fully described and Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview of a shoe constructe "inac'corda'nce with the principles of this inventiofi-.-'f'f; Fig. 2 1s aplan view of the insole showing theshoeupperin section.- Fig. 3 isa1'sect1onal view on line Fig. .4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the rear ortionof a shoe with this improjement appfied thereto. Fig..- 5 is atop plan-viewof a modified form 'of the invention. Fig. ,6-is a sectional view on line 6 6ofFig.5.' 1 7 Referring to the drawing and in which the meral 10 designates a rigid tube of any suit-. able material such as metal or "the like of any ity of apertures or openings llin the body portion and one end thereof is closed in anysuitable manner such as by drawing the tube form a frontor deflecting n 15a To the attainment of these ends anfitii and flattening the end as at 12. A stripof any suitable material 13 such as metal or the like, is provided with a. longitudinal groove or depressed portion 14 preferably located "centrally thereof to receive the tube 10 and is of a depth substantially equal to one half of the diameter of the tube, The forward end of this late preferably projects beyond the 'forwardpor closed end' 12 of'the tube, and is bent upward as at l5, and said upturned portion is provided with'an aperture or slot 16 through which the closed end,12 of the tube 10, asses and by means ofwhich the for: ward end of the tube and the plate.are secured together. The rear end of the tube preferably projectsbeyond the rear endof thexplate 13. In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the tube issecured within the groove or depressed portion 14 of the plate 13 in any suita le manner such he solder or the like. The front end of the tubeis open and terminates short of the endof the groove or J depressed portion 14, which latter also terminates short of the front, of the plate to In each instance after the tube 10 and the plate 13 have been secured together they are bent to conform to the -arch ofthe foot.'. A suitable insole 16 is preferably-provided with a longi "tudinal depression orgroove 17, in its lower face, located (preferably at the center thereof, which eXten s from its rear end and termi nates adjacent the point occupied by the ball of'th'e foot. The plate 13 and tube 10 are placed adj acent the lower face of the insole with the-upper or projecting vportion of the tube standing within the roove or depressed portion 17. Thea-extrem ty. of the end 15 of the' late 13 ispre'ferably embedded in the inso e16 and the plate is secured by any suit- "able means, suchas tacks 1801 the like. The plate and tube are so located that the rear extremity of the tube terminates flush with the rearend of-the insole 16. This insole is 'provided with a lurality of apertures 19 some of which are coated above and register 1 with the a. ertures 11 in. the tube 10.

I through the tube, thus causing a circulation 5 I as numerous changes may be made therein of air. In the modified form of the invention the air will also be discharged out of the front end of the tube and against the wall 15 which will deflect the same against the sole of the foot. In order to prevent moisture and water from being drawn into the tube on a wet day, a suitable caper closure may be provided for the exposed end of the tube.

his cap or closure may be of any suitable construction, but is preferably in the form of a screw plug 20, which is adapted to enter and engage threads 21 in the end of the tube. When ltiS desired to ventilate the shoe. the cap or closure is removed.

With such an arrangement it will beseen that the usual steel shank may be dispensed with and this improvement substituted therefor which will stifl'en and strengthen the shoe and at the same time to be properly ventilated. 'l urthermor'e the apertures in the tube and insole will always be maintainedin a registering position.

It is to be understood that it is not desired to be limited to the exact details of construc tion or the arrangement of the several parts,

Without departing from the spirit of the invention. j What is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a late provided witha-longitudinal depresse portlon orgroove, a per forated tube seated Withinthe groove or depressed portion. and projeeting"above the ace ofthe plate, ineans for securing the plate and tube together, said plate and tube being, embedded in the sole of ashoe, said tube'having communicationigvith the outside permit the shoe May- A. D. 1906.

air, and an insole provided with perforations registering'with the perforations in the tube.

2. In, a device of the class described the combination of a plate provided with a ion itudinal groove, a'tube seated within t e groove and projecting above the top of the plate, and provided with perforations above the plate, an insole, provided with a groove in its under face adapted to receive the portion of the tube above the plate to ermit the plate to engage the face of the inso e, said in- "sole being provided with perforations registering with the perforations in the tube, and

means for securing the parts together.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a plate provided with a longitudinal roov'eor depressedportion-termi- I nating' 's ort of one end thereof to form an end wall, 'a' tube having an open end seated within the groove and with its open endadjacent the wall, said tube projecting above the top of the plate and provided with p erforations in the projecting portion, an insole, provided with a longitudinal groove toreceive the projecting portion of the tube and having erforations adapted to register with the per orations in the tube and means for securing said parts together, said tube hav- .ing communication with the outside air.

n testimony w'hereof-I have signed my I name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this lath day of JAMESBALL. n

' Witnesses: 1

Rumors A. HOPKINS, CHAS. SEEM. 

